Background: The prognostic value of Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still indistinct. We conducted this study to assess the prognostic significance of pretreatment PLR in patients with unresectable NSCLC.
Aim of the Work: to assess the prognostic significance of pre-treatment PLR in patients with NSCLC.
Material and Methods: we retrospectively reviewed 130 patients treated for NSCLC with definitive/palliative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in Ain-Shams University hospital, Clinical Oncology department between January 2014 and December 2016. Pre-treatment CBC was available for the 130 patients to calculate PLR by dividing the absolute platelet count by the absolute lymphocytic count.
Results: Out of 130 patients with available pre-treatment complete blood picture, population age ranged from 23 to 87 years. Male to female ratio was 4.8:1. Adenocarcinoma presents 51% of cases. Unresectable stage II and stage III present 2% and 27% respectively, while Stage IV presents 69%. Using a cut-off value of 150, high PLR>150 was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (median OS: 10.33 months; 95% CI: 6.23-14.42), compared to patients with PLR<150; (median OS: 24.63 months, 95% CI: 11.5-37.76, p=0.008), but not PFS. In multivariate analysis, PLR>150 was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS; (HR=1.9, 95% CI; 1.092-3.3, p=0.023).    
Conclusion: High PLR is associated with poor OS in patients with unresectable NSCLC.